Thursday, July 21, 2011

Season 20 Draft

1. Marc Redman, 2B, New York Mets: The Mets took the best non-iffy player available on their board. His makeup has a shortcoming which is the worst thing one can say about him. Playing 2B could fall a bit short of stardom and may find another position in his future. Could very well become that true lead-off hitter a team needs.

Rating: B+

2. Austin Rain, SP, Baltimore Orioles: If he was on the Mets board he would have went #1. To me he has it all, well some would rather see a high velo.

Rating: A+

3. Dean Kapler, SS, Mexico City Diablos Rojos: The jury is still out as to whether he will be able to assume SS duties but would be very capable of 3B. Has power and speed which are big pluses.

Rating: A+

4. Vladimir Brown, SP, Chicago Cubs: A high velo pitcher with a good resume'. Control may end up a tad light but should be acceptable. Will having only 3 pitches hurt as a starter?

Rating: A-

5. Miguel Montanez, CL, Texas Rangers: The jury is still out whether or not he can be a shutdown closer, depends on how he develops.

Rating: B+

6. Apollo Metzger, SS, Tampa Bay Rays: Has a lot of development to consider. Range could fall well short of SS status but with the strong glove and arm anything is possible. Has the hitting power and a little speed but will the rest come around? Could wind up a disappointing project player.

Rating: B

7. Sean Carter, SP, St. Louis Browns: A fly-ball lefty with a possible good split against righties. Control may end up short of expectations but good pitches will cover that accordingly.

Rating: B+

8. Lloyd Bass, SP, Little Rock Heads: I debated a long time at taking him #1, the reason was overall. With very makeable projections it seemed low when compared to his counterparts which was a cause for concern for me. Was scouting that wrong? After seeing his abilities with my regular scouting the problem is with his pitches but I think they are better than I am seeing and with luck that 5th pitch could go by the wayside.

Rating: B+

9. Jordy Griffiths, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks: Will have to develop well in order to play SS and I don't see it happening. 2B, 3B or a weak gloved CF is possible for high profile though. Hitting could be a let down also if things don't develop. Could be a long project.

Rating: B

10. Rusty Nathan, SP, Cincinnati Reds: If health doesn't get him, could develop into a very good lefty though he may need a good catcher to keep him control.

Rating: A-

11. Mitchell Cogan, SS, Minnesota Twins: Could very well make it as a good hitting SS. His biggest problem looks to be health.

Rating: A-

12. Graham Jensen, MR, San Francisco Giants: If his pitches are better than I see, he should develop well into a good middle relief pitcher in any ones pen.

Rating: B+

13. Trot Klingenbeck, LF, Washington D.C. Senators: LF might be a bit too much and wind up at 1B. Probablt won't have the big home run production one would like at that position but should be capable of extra base hits and walks.

Rating: B+

14. Neifi Ramirez, RF, Detroit Tigers: Speaking of project players, eeeeek. I can't see him playing above 1B. Has power and contact in the making but everything will have to click for his hitting abilities to be realized. Will call him the "Red-Herring" of the draft so far.

Rating: C+

15. Marty Gibbons, SP, Toronto Blue Jays: Should develop into a very solid starter. May not go deep into games but would be very tough to get a hit off of.

Rating: A-

16. Will Potvin, SS, Milwaukee Brewers: Should develop into a gold-glover at SS. His hitting style is controversial to say the least.

Rating: A-

17. Bud Latham, 2B, Detroit Tigers: 2B looks uncomfortable, RF is a maybe as his arm isn't great. Hitting could develop as his speed will help.

Rating: B-

18. Alvin Ball, SP, Las Vegas Slobs: If his splits develop, a rare find in a starter this late in the draft.

Rating: B

19. Bill Hawkins, SP, Atlanta Braves: I passed on him with the first pick. Mainly because he is a lefty. His right split probably won't develop past mediocre. However his control and pitches could cover that fact if development occurs.

Rating: B

20. Jeff O'Toole, 3B, Dover Dung Beetles: Has great plate presence and will be a very tough out or maybe out of the park. However I don't see him progressing past playing 1B.

Rating: B

21. Mario Mench, CL, Las Vegas Slobs: Could very well develop into a shutdown closer.

Rating: A-

22. Ken Darr,SS, Helena Hot Pockets: My scouts don't see him as a SS and will likely end up at 3B. Could have a very nice eye and enough contact to be a viable hitter in the lineup.

Rating: B

23. Pat Hill, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies: His range might overcome the weak glove. Gonna be one tough out at the plate though he might get caught fishing with wiley pitchers.

Rating: B+

24. Herb Bowen, SP, Boston Red Sox: The best pitcher and player in the draft and on my board and probably a few others. Most couldn't take the more than likely chance that he won't sign. If he does, what will be the cost? Red Sox are playing Abba tunes.

Rating: A+

25. Paul Chiba, 2B, Kansas City Royals: Possibly projected the most powerful hitting player in the draft. Chances are great that he will wind up at corner outfield however.

Rating: B+

26. Hughie Reynolds, LR, San Diego Padres: There is a lot of talk in my scouting department that this kid could be a bust, in San Diego however he could make it. Great splits with mediocre accessories I can see why. His name says it all.

Rating: C+

27. Henry Benjamin, SU, Minnesota Twins: I don't think he is good enough to be a lefty closer but could be a very valuable setup man in the pen.

Rating: B+

28. Bo Ventura, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates: Ok, how did this kid slip so far down the draft? Was it his health? Maybe his pitches wasn't up to snuff? I can see all that happening.

Rating B-

29. Ralph Taylor, C, Houston Astros: The Astros like power hitting and this kid has all the tools to do that. Pitchers beware as I have a stone glove and over grown arms that doesn't throw well and the coach will have to call the pitches. Our 'Roid' star of the draft.

Rating: B

30. Andrew Clay, SP, Salem Super Sequoias: I am a pitcher that is smart enough to develop into a ML star but I can't do that from the DL.

Rating: C+

31. Osvaldo Azocar, SP, Florida Marlins: Was everyone else as cautious as me? Another on my board that has a slim chance at signing. The Marlins are listening to the same tunes as the Red Sox.

Rating: A+

32. Bubbles Edwards, 2B, Atlanta Braves: I failed at Flamingo dancing at the Tropicana so I thought I would give baseball a try. Would make a better 3B or RF if you ask me. Hitting is pretty good. Did he fall this far down because of his name?

Rating: B

33. Brandon Garcia, C, Seattle Mariners: Are all catchers "Roid" stars in this draft? Well, at least he can use his glove. The best asset is his bat. could lead the league in Homers and Strikeouts in the same season.

Rating: B-

34. Bart Warden, LR, Florida Marlins: I swear I am a pitcher. Has a tendency to walk batters but does have decent abilities.